Raleigh police cite driver in accident involving 21-year-old NC State student

A driver who police say hit an N.C. State student near campus on Sunday, leaving the student with serious injuries he did not survive, has been charged.

Shaun Caleb Oster, 21, of Cary, was cited on charges of failure to reduce speed to avoid collision with a pedestrian, and misdemeanor death by a motor vehicle, Raleigh police spokesperson Laura Hourigan said Thursday.

He was driving his car, a 2008 Acura, southeast on Varsity Drive at approximately 2:45 a.m. Sunday when he turned right onto Crest Road and struck Benjamin DeRose, a 21-year-old student at N.C. State, according to an accident report police released Wednesday.

DeRose was running across Crest Road at “a point where there is no crosswalk, not at the intersection,” when he was struck, the report stated.

Oster was traveling approximately 35 mph, the report stated.

Microbiology major, fraternity brother

DeRose was majoring in microbiology at N.C. State, where he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi, according to university spokesperson Mick Kulikowski.

Before college, DeRose attended Sanderson High School in Raleigh, according to his Facebook page.

His older brother Adam told WRAL Ben was an organ donor, and that at least seven people will receive his organs.

An online fundraiser on the website GoFundMe had raised more than $44,000 from more than 750 donors as of Thursday. The money will be used for funeral expenses and a memorial scholarship at N.C. State, the website page says.

A funeral for DeRose will be held at Hope Lutheran Church in Wake Forest on Friday, according to an obituary.

This story was originally published October 21, 2021 at 3:06 PM.

Avi Bajpai

The News & Observer

919-346-4817

Avi Bajpai is a state politics reporter for The News & Observer. He previously covered breaking news and public safety. Contact him at abajpai@newsobserver.com or (919) 346-4817.